BIG AUDITION: Geno Smith, who has received just 14 snaps in the Jets’ first two preseason games, starts tonight against the Giants with a chance to win the quarterback job. (Getty Images)

It has been nearly four months since the Jets made the franchise-altering decision to select Geno Smith in the second round of the NFL Draft. Since that Friday night in April, the question has been: Could Smith take the starting job from Mark Sanchez?

Tonight, we should get our answer.

If Smith looks capable against the Giants, the job will be his. If he falters, expect to see Sanchez under center in two weeks against the Buccaneers.

Smith has answered many of the coaching staff’s questions throughout training camp, but he has been limited to 14 snaps in the team’s first two preseason games because of a sprained right ankle. That is why the Jets feel they need to see Smith tonight — a lot of Smith.

The plan is to play him at least two quarters and perhaps into the third depending on how many series he has gotten and how his ankle feels. The Jets feel as if they know exactly what Sanchez is after four years in the NFL and a full training camp. Smith remains a bit of a mystery — one they hope to solve tonight.

“I’d like to see him play, he just hasn’t played much, and get a good evaluation on him in a preseason game,” offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said.

The 22-year-old Smith trailed Sanchez when training camp began. The coaches had questions about his decision-making, footwork and command of the offense. He came out on fire in the first week of camp, though, and opened eyes with his arm strength and his ability to give the offense a running dynamic.

Smith dropped off a bit in the middle of camp and then sprained his ankle in Detroit early in the third quarter after just seven passes. The Jets opted to keep him practicing on the ankle. It is clear now they had questions about his toughness and were teaching him a lesson about the need for a quarterback to play through pain. Smith struggled mightily and threw four interceptions in the final practice of the week.

During the memorable practice, which coach Rex Ryan labeled “brutal,” a source said Smith actually asked out after a few interceptions because of his ankle, but Mornhinweg told him to keep practicing. A day later, Smith was told he would not play in the team’s preseason game against the Jaguars that weekend, which led to questions why the Jets pushed him.

“I think we did exactly the right thing trying to push him and get him well,” quarterbacks coach David Lee said. “I think the biggest thing is, let him know that you don’t feel perfect in pro football. You’re not going to feel great all the time.

“I mean I’m sitting there and he’s hurting like a son of a gun. They’re digging a hole in Mark Sanchez’s toe big enough to pull a half dollar out of it because he’s got some nail infected. He doesn’t blink, he doesn’t tell me. I just happened to hear from somebody else. He’s out there [and he] practices. You know you got to play that way and you get a rookie in here and he has to learn that and get in that routine and know that if he’s going to be the quarterback then he has to go. He’s got to practice unless he’s just injured, seriously injured.

“There is a difference between being hurt and being injured. We needed him to suck it up and go, and he did.”

Smith has rebounded this week with some of his best practices of the summer. He has looked accurate and confident. Now, will it translate to tonight when Justin Tuck is chasing him down?

The Jets coaches will be watching everything Smith does, but they want to see how quickly he gets rid of the ball, how he protects the ball (he has held it with one hand at times), how quickly he can get the team out of the huddle and whether he drops back to the proper depth on passing plays.

Four months after calling his name, the Jets get to see if he has the game.

“I’m extremely excited,” Smith said. “Especially since I didn’t get to play last week. So I get an opportunity to go out there and play and try and win the game with my teammates.”

3 JETS TO WATCH

GENO SMITH, Quarterback

Fans and media members will barely be watching anyone else in this game. This is Smith’s chance to win the starting job. He needs to protect the ball and show the coaches he’s capable of running the Jets’ offense.

BRIAN WINTERS, Guard

Smith is not the only rookie who has missed valuable time because of an injury. Winters impressed the coaching staff early in camp but then sprained his ankle and did not play in either of the first two preseason games.

GARRETT MCINTYRE, Outside linebacker

McIntyre takes Quinton Coples’ spot in the starting lineup. McIntyre has been on the Jets for three years as a role player. Now, he’s being asked to be a major contributor. If he falters, expect Ricky Sapp to get a shot.